So Far From Heaven

by Richard Bradford

SO FAR FROM HEAVEN is the story of the Tafoya clan, a Chicano family with a flair for misadventure. The Tafoyas include a physician philosopher, a radical daughter with a degree from Bryn Mawr, a clumsy, stupid son, and a governor of New Mexico. From these elements Bradford creates a story as funny and tender as RED SKY AT MORNING, also set in New Mexico, also well worth reading.

Genres: Fiction, Literature

273 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1973

About the author

Richard Bradford was an American novelist, best known for his 1968 novel Red Sky at Morning, a film version of which was released in 1971.

(wikipedia)

Reviews

[Lark · Rating 5 out of 5]

Why, why, why didn't he write more?
Spectacular voice; you don't want the book to end as the narrator is such fun to listen to. Very lovable characters. I suppose the plot is a little thin, but honestly, as the reader, you don't care. It's a lovely snapshot of a New Mexico in a period of change.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

I read this book many years ago and need to re-read it, but what it means to me is that I've met more fictional Tafoyas than actual Tafoyas.

Fictional might be better.

Sincerely,

Dennis Tafoya

[Ppeva · Rating 5 out of 5]

Csak tudnám, miért olyan nehéz sokszor jó könyvekről értékelést írni!
Teljesen véletlenül került a kezembe, egy nagy könyvkupacból húztam ki, amitől a bátyámék meg akartak szabadulni. Megtetszett a címe, és minden előzetes tájékozódás nélkül nekiláttam. És nem bántam meg, sőt!
Olyan kár, hogy ennyire kevesen ismerik itt a Molyon is ezt a könyvet. Tettem fel egy csomó idézetet, remélem, sikerül velük kedvet csinálni az olvasáshoz. Az csak egyik oldala a könyvnek, hogy szenzációs az író humora. Az ironikus hangnem mögött értékes tartalom is van benne.
Sajnos, az író ezen kívül csak egyetlen könyvet írt. Az is ment azonnal a várólistámra.
Olvassátok, nem bánjátok meg! :)

[Patrick O'Hannigan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Bradford's sophomore novel lacks the timeless appeal of his debut effort in Red Sky at Morning, but in some ways, that is not his fault. "Red Sky" was a coming-of-age story set within a culture clash between southerners and westerners. "So Far from Heaven" is more limited in scope, because this time the culture clash is a matter of degree rather than of kind: Bradford writes here about the differences between Texas and New Mexico.

"So Far from Heaven" is also saddled with an early-Seventies setting that is important to the plot but keeps the story from transcending genres the way "Red Sky at Morning" did. Land use and reparations issues will not grab readers as unforgettably as the snapshots of the transition from youth to adulthood that Bradford had already given to American arts and letters when he sat down to tell a story about the Tafoya family and the disgraced executive who accidentally becomes part of their lives.

In spite of those shortcomings, "So Far from Heaven" is worth reading. Richard Bradford wore his deep affection for New Mexico lightly, but no writer has ever done a better job of capturing the essence of an area or its people. Moreover, everything his characters do is believable. "So Far From Heaven" also entertains with truthful asides about love, politics, and journalism. It's a book that is increasingly hard to find, but eminently worth finding.

[Jill Meyer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The title "So Far From Heaven", Richard Bradford's second and last book, was taken from the old lament, "Poor New Mexico, so close to Texas and so far from heaven". Bradford, a long time resident of Santa Fe, had written an earlier, more famous, novel, "Red Sky at Morning". Made into a movie with Desi Arnez, Jr and Richard Thomas, "Red Sky" has remained the novel Richard Bradford is more famous for, but for my money, "So Far From Heaven" is just as good, and, maybe, even better.

Set in a small town north of Santa Fe but south of Taos, the family of Cruz Tafoya has been ranching the area for a few generations. A fortunate land grant has given the Tafoyas very good land and the family has made the most of it. They "run" sheep and cattle on the same land, evidently a "no-no" in the ranching business, but the Tafoyas make it work. Cruz is one of four brothers and each of the brothers is a story in-and-of himself. Let's just say these are not typical ranchers, but rather an extended family of intelligence (well, all but for a couple), drive, humor, and liberal leanings. Into this rustic madhouse wanders - or rather, he was picked up after a car accident in Texas - a disgraced Texas oilman named David A Reed, who is looking for a place to put his life back together. The bare sketches of David A Reed's "disgrace" are given, letting the reader figure out what happened.

Bradford is writing of early 1970's New Mexico, which, actually, is little different from 2011 New Mexico. Water is still scarce there and political corruption is little disguised. There are tensions between the Anglos and Nativos, which are a part of Bradford's story. Schemes abound in the story and political craftsmanship is practiced by the cunning governor, who happens to be Cruz Tafoya's brother. Bradford brings several groups of New Mexicans "alive" in his novel and the reader is greatly entertained.

But along with the schemes and the history are feelings of love. Love of land, love of family, and love of a couple who find each other in that beautiful area north of Santa Fe. Bradford wrote an entertaining, funny, and wonderful story in "So Far From Heaven". It's really too bad he didn't write more novels. This one, if you can find a copy, is a real keeper.

[Mary Louise Sanchez · Rating 4 out of 5]

David Reed works for a land hungry Texan, Clyde Clifton Cotton but David can't take a poor southern Coloradoan's land away in a crooked deal so David leaves Texas to find his dignity again but gets in a car accident only to be rescued by Cruz Tafoya, a physician and land owner in New Mexico. David ends up working for Tafoya and helps him with the water disputes between local Hispanics, whose ancestors claimed the New Mexico land before the Texans wanted it.

I like reading stories where the setting is New Mexico. Richard Bradford captured the spirit of the local Hispanics and the ongoing water disputes in this story.

[Benjamin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Apparently Richard Bradford wrote only two novels, this one and Red Sky at Morning. The latter was made into a mediocre movie in 1971 starring John Boy from The Waltons. It's a shame, because he was a really good story teller. I reread this one every so often, because it's a good story well-told, and it's set in New Mexico. It's not profound. Plot-wise it's probably not all that original, but I like it. As far as I can tell it's long out of print, which is a real shame.

[Judy Johnson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Written and set in New Mexico in the early 70's, the book is of that time. Parts of it are dated, but many of the cultural issues and conflicts are still going on today. It is a fairly quick, lighthearted read.

[Reet · Rating 2 out of 5]

Wrong kind of book for a vegan to read; all kinds of animal cruelty going on here. I suppose it's a book for people not familiar with New Mexico, as they'll think it's realistic or something.

[April · Rating 4 out of 5]

Reread ahead of a trip to New Mexico. Another book by Bradford with bone dry humor and memorable dialogue.

[Sunshine Stevens · Rating 4 out of 5]

The characters and dialogue is fantastic. The subject, themes and politics eerily familiar 50 years later.

[Sarah Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

one of the funniest books I've read so far! so much lovely detail with his words of describing the life of his characters.

[Vic · Rating 4 out of 5]

Richard Bradford's two works, So Far From Heaven and Red Sky in the Morning, are similar in many ways. Both stories featured New Mexico and it's proud hispanic heritage. Both stories contained wonderful characters and clever dialog. Both stories were educational about life in one of the poorest states in the U.S., both touched on the inherent prejudice that comes from living in America as a non-white. Unfortunately, both stories represent the sum total of Richard Bradford's contribution to American fiction. Sadly, the world lost a talented writer when he passed away in 2002.

In, So Far From Heaven, a young Texan named David Reed, on the run from his job working for an uber rich Texas millionaire, meets Cruz Tofoya, a doctor/rancher from New Mexico who comes to his aid following a car accident. As circumstance would have it, David is invited to live with the good doctor and his politically radical, school teaching daughter where he sets about healing body and soul. It takes the entire story to learn why David Reed has turned his back on his job, his life, and his boss.

Bradford clearly sided with the little man. Published in 1973 the story has political relevance in 2017. Instead of Texas, make it New York. Instead of CC Cotton, Texas tycoon, make it Donald Trump. Both represent the segment of our culture that values profit ahead of conscience. Both share the same disdain for those they consider inferior - which is basically anyone not rich.

As David mends physically in the home of Cruz Tofoya, he also regains his moral compass. The more complete his assimilation into the daily life of the Tofoya clan, a diverse mix that counts the governor of New Mexico as one of their own, the more he rejects the dishonesty, cynicism and awful class prejudice that separates the one percenters from the rest of the American population.

In both stories, Red Sky in the Morning and So Far From Heaven, Bradford does not romanticize the hispanic population the way some western writers romanticized the American Indian. His characters are a reflection of the indigenous population of the state and they run the gamut: funny, serious, intelligent, criminal, kind, poor, wealthy, educated, uneducated . . . All are treated with respect and all are seen against the backdrop of the intolerance and racial prejudice that has always been a part of American culture.

As much as New Mexico might claim a Mexican heritage with similarities in customs and traditions, Bradford's characters are American. They live in the United States and whether they speak Spanish or English in their homes, they are as surely citizens of our country as those who were born into money or society. Whether 1973 or 2017 the prejudice inherent in American society is based upon the attitude that non-whites are second class citizens; anything goes when it comes to making money; poor people are as inferior as non-whites. Interestingly, the mistrust and the dislike between anglos and hispanics goes in both directions.

Although these themes form the foundation of both stories, Bradford's love of New Mexico is clearly on display. His love of the natural beauty whether high mountain or high desert, and his love of the people who inhabit this part of our country are the chilies that give his stories their special flavor.

[Googz · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got hardcover copies of this and RED SKY AT MORNING from Bill Macabe's collection. I don't know why I picked them up - I had never heard of them before, or their author, and had no reason to think they'd be any more worth reading than the scores of books I left behind. But boy, am I glad that I didn't do that. When I snagged these books I figured I was just getting a sampler of Bradford's work; turns out I was getting the complete novels set. While SO FAR FROM HEAVEN is no RED SKY AT MORNING, and while the plot is somewhat flimsy, it is still an immensely likable book, and all of the goofy eccentrics therein are equally likable. As with RED SKY AT MORNING, the ending seems to come a little quickly and clumsily, but also as with RED SKY AT MORNING, that is more than made-up-for with the remaining content of the book; the obvious love for New Mexico that Bradford possesses, the endlessly memorable characters, and the conversational tone of the narration. Like so many others, I wonder why, and lament that, Bradford did not leave more novels behind. For a guy that has spent precious little time in New Mexico, I love the place even in absentia, and I owe that in no small part to Mr. Bradford. I can see why Bill was such a fan, and I'm glad I went with my instinct to collect up Bradford's books from his collection.

[Michelle · Rating 5 out of 5]

For New Mexicans and the people who love them.

[Jackie · Rating 3 out of 5]

I enjoyed this book..even though the characters are exaggerated. I do feel it would take a New Mexican to really like it, however. Red sky at Morning is certainly a better book, and more universal.